KIU Journal of Humanities

KIU Journal of Humanities Copyright©2019

Kampala International University ISSN: 2415-0843; 4(2): 45-52

Communication Technology: Tool for Changing the Face of Worship in

Christian Religion in Nigeria

OLANREWAJU AJANI TUNDE

Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Nigeria

ADEBOLA RACHAEL ADEYEMI

College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Nigeria

Abstract. Information and communication Keywords: Religion, technology, worship and

technology has come to stay and its influence Information
has percolated into every fiber of the society,
religion inclusive. Religion being what it is, is 1. Introduction
always reluctant to embrace change especially
when it comes to what has to do with science Before the world became a global village,
and technology. However, it seems religion has religious worship, ethics and practices is been
made an exception with ICT, religious centers propagated through various means. The
has embraced ICT with a remarkable open arms. dynamism of religion and its widespread had
Though its potential to further the propagation of and will continue to have an adverse effect on
religion in the country has greatly been the lifestyle of every human. Technology is a
harnessed, also it has led to some religious body of knowledge devoted to creating tools,
malady. Therefore this paper examined the processing actions and extracting of materials.
introduction of ICT into Religion in Nigeria. The term „Technology” is wide and everyone
This research work further point out the has their own way of understanding the meaning
importance of the ICT to religion. This paper of technology. We use technology to accomplish
also investigates the effects of ICT on Religion various tasks in our daily lives, in brief; we can
in Nigeria. In carrying out the research, describe technology as products, processes or
qualitative method was used and relevant organizations. We use technology to extend our
materials were consulted for text analysis. Few abilities, and that makes people as the most
recommendations were made which include; important part of any technological system.
religion should draw a line in religious worship (Ramey, 2013).
that ICT must not cross, so that it (ICT) may not
be tempted to hijack the spiritual essence of Information on its own side is that which can be
worship. communicated and understood. Therefore
information Technology (IT) which is the same
with Information Communication Technology

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can be defined as the use of Information in order age not to be ICT compliant. Ukodie (2004)
to meet human need or purpose with reference to further acceded to this fact that, information and
the use of contemporary devices. Information communication technology has proven itself and
and communication technology is a term that it has been accepted as engine of 21stcentury and
includes any communication device or beyond. The rapid rate at which ICT have
application, encompassing radio, television, evolved since mid 20th century, the convergence
cellular phones, computer and network, phenomenon in which all existing technology
hardware and software, satellite systems and so have been harmonized by ICT, in addition to
on, as well as the various services and their pervasiveness and intensiveness in all areas
applications associated with them such as of human activities, gives ICT a leading edge in
videoconferencing and distance learning. ICT development and globalization. Therefore, since
can be seen in different aspect such as ICT in house of worship is part of the information and
education, health care, libraries, business and communication community, it is necessary to
religion. The converging global trend of investigate how information communication
Information and Communication Technology technology is used in the church and its impact
has created opportunities that even religion is on religious worship in Nigeria.
benefitting from. Also, communication
technology has been accepted as a tool in this 2. Overview OF ICT in Nigeria
21st century because it has left no area
untouched. (Ilechukwu, 2014). The history of ICT originates from humble
While religion, on the other hand, is difficult to beginnings, which include the abacus. The
define, because human belief structures are abacus is thought to have been originally
varied and complicated. Many definitions invented 3000 years before the birth of Christ.
of religion have been attempted but many fall But today, it has evolved into a concept that is
foul of being too narrow, or too wide. It has generally accepted globally. According to
proven problematic to come to a reasonable Adamkolo (2014), the Federal Executive
definition which describes the varieties of Council approved the National Information
religion found across the East and West, both Technology Policy in March 2001 and the
old and new. Many people have given up even implementation started in April with the
trying to define religion coherently (Crabtree, establishment of the National Information
2016). Nevertheless, scholars have attempted to Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in
define religion. Two scholarly definitions is charge of the mission to make Nigeria an ICT-
considered for this paper. Jemiriye (2006) capable country in Africa and a key player in the
defined religion as a system of faith, belief and Information Society, while using ICT as a
worship. Whitehead also defined religion as catalyst for sustainable development and global
what an individual does with his own competitiveness (ICT4D Nigeria Annual Report,
solitariness. Here, religion is what a man does in 2007). In the new policy draft document 2012,
his time of meditation or what a man does in his the mission statements of the ICT policy is to
spare time. With these definitions it could fully integrate Information and Communication
clearly be deduced that worship is an imperative Technology into the socioeconomic
ingredient in religion. It is a means to express development of Nigeria in order to transform the
religious experience. country into a knowledge-based economy. The
increasing globalization driven by ICT makes it
The introduction of ICT and the vast uses of the imperative for Nigeria as an emerging market to
internet has led so many churches to using irreversibly consider the application and
communication technology to enhance and promotion of ICT strategy to facilitate its rapid
promote worship, fellowship, pastoral care, growth and development. This will involve the
education, mission and community outreach, development of a vibrant ICT sector to drive and
evangelism and communications. Its relevant expand the national production frontiers in
benefits make it appropriate for all the agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors. It
ministries. Religion now finds it difficult in this would also require the application of the new

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knowledge to drive other soft sectors: practices when it breaks communal bonds.
governance, entertainments, public services, While this dual natured relationship to religion
media sector, tourism and religion. can be seen in many technologies, one of the
Communication technology may not be the clearest examples of how technology can both
remedy for hunger, poverty, diseases, illiteracy, support and erode religious techniques is
and every crisis associated with religion, but the internet social networking. (Verschoor-Kirss,
right information at the right time, however, can 2012).
bring about sustainable development when used
appropriately with the maximum participation of 4. Worship in Christian Religion
everyone. The intrinsic values of ICT lie not in
easing communication and information but Worship is an act of religious devotion usually
rather in stimulating growth and development. directed towards a deity. An act of worship may
(Olubamise, 2007). be performed individually, in an informal or
formal group, or by a designated leader.
3. ICT and Christian Religion Christian worship involves praising God in
music and speech, readings from scripture,
One of the unique features of the Christian prayers of various sorts, a sermon, and various
society is the way in which it combines the holy ceremonies (often called sacraments) such
immutable and the flexible. It is a society that as the Eucharist.
strictly adheres firmly to its fixed principles, but While worship is often thought of only as
at the same time encourages its followers adopt services in which Christians come together in a
those things which are beneficial to the society. group, individual Christians can worship God on
The Church's interest in technology is an their own, and in any place (BBC, 2009).
expression of her longstanding curiosity about Different churches, even within the same
the media and communication technology, denomination, will use very different styles of
seeing the media as an outcome of the historical worship. Some will be elaborate, with a choir
scientific process by which humankind singing difficult music, others will hand the
“advances further and further in the discovery of music over to the congregation, who sing
the resources and values contained in the whole simpler hymns or worship songs. Some churches
of creation. Thus the Church has taken a leave much of the action to the minister, while
fundamentally positive approach to the media. others encourage great congregational
Religion sees the media as a gift which unites participation.(Of course all churches encourage
and connects the Christians globally in the full participation of the congregation in
accordance with the providential design, unite praising God with their heart, mind, and soul,
men in brotherhood and so help them to but some churches give the congregation more
cooperate with his plan for their salvation physical participation.)
(Vatican, 2002). Another picture of Christian worship is showing
reverence and gratitude by bowing down before
In an effort to evangelize the word of God and God, as in this passage from Nehemiah:
Christian faith to a growing population of "Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all
Christians both older and younger ones, the people lifted their hands and responded,
churches are turning to technology to create the 'Amen! Amen!' Then they bowed down and
perfect approach while maintaining Christian worshiped the LORD with their faces to the
values. ground" (Nehemiah 8:6).
Both singing and bowing down are acts of
However, the interplay between religion and worship, but they are only part of the picture.
technology is not always adversarial. There are Christian worship is so much more than that!
many ways in which ICT actually enhances Christian worship begins with discovering and
religious practices, mainly through the admitting what we have been worshipping in our
expansion and creation of religious lives. All of us worship something, whether we
communities. Technology cheapens religious know it or not. We may not physically bow

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down to it, or offer it songs of praise and However, before the advent of projectors,
adoration, but whatever we devote most of our computers, internet and the likes, the most
time and attention to is often what we worship. popular devices used in worship are our audio
Merriam-webster definition of worship: systems, microphones, soundboard, processor
"Reverence offered a divine being or and improved monitor systems, though these
supernatural power; also: an act of expressing gadget are provincial and not sophisticated.
such reverence; a form of religious practice with Nevertheless, they do serve the purpose they are
its creed and ritual; extravagant respect or meant to serve. They pose less challenge neither
admiration for or devotion to an object of do they distract worshippers during worship.
esteem." (Dictionary, 1999). Communication technology now plays an
Seen in that light, it's easy to see that we can important role in the Sunday worship. Most men
worship God, we can worship money, or power, of God now have their Scriptures and other
or a rock star, or we can even worship a religious materials on the phone or tablet. Some
lifestyle. Worship is more than an act of often use computer to research and prepare
reverence. It is an attitude of the heart. lessons that will be taught on Sundays.
Christian worship is clearly of interest to God. Meanwhile some church leaders have been
He knows we have an inner need to worship, so encouraging members to use digital versions of
He asks us to worship Him. He, being God, can religious materials rather than costly and
handle the weight of being worshiped; humans environmentally impactful paper books and
cannot. People who are worshiped by others can magazines. Most weekends, church members
often be influenced to think more highly of now watch the proceedings in their homes
themselves than they ought. through streaming video on the television.
According to Dawson (2015), a key challenge
associated with all this is that the same devices
5. ICT and Worship In Christian that is been used for these religious activities on
Religion in Nigeria Sundays are the ones that carry the day-to-day
distractions like email, sports scores, social
Majority of the worship centers in Nigeria are networks and all the rest. This causes
now being built with technology in mind or have distractions when interrupted by notifications
been retrofitted with technology in the past and messages from different social media
years. There are so many churches employing platform. It takes away the attention from the
new technology in worship in this age. The use worship, which is the sole purpose of attending
of Wi-Fi and social media in some form has the service. Members in most churches now use
become an acceptable means to reach out to the You Version to look up the Bible texts on their
congregation. In some churches, people are various smart phones. They can check out
allowed to tweet the pastor a question and he different translations from what's projected on
would read the question and address it as a part the screen and from the printed Bibles. Also the
of his message. Even in the concerts these idea of tweeting during service has made
churches organize, the performers now use a worship and religion lose its essence. Wi-Fi
tablet device to cast the music being performed setup for the congregation is for a purpose which
(Bolu, 2012). is totally different from worship, even though it
is always available during worship. Furthermore,
The Apostle Paul wrote long scripts by hand, the enhancement of worship experience is
sent them across hundreds of miles of water or through "sound" amplification. The volume,
desert, all just to hope that they reached the clarity and provision of sound encapsulate a
hands of church elders. But now pastors can good worship which cannot be done without
simply speak from the comfort of their offices quality technology device. Technology in
and instantaneously stream the message online churches today allows more people to participate
to thousands of homes. There‟s no risk of it in worship, not fewer people. An example of this
getting lost and no possibility that the message is the display of song lyrics which will be
will come too late to be helpful. projected for all to see, so that the whole

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congregation can participate, which is a brilliant part of the congregation that is able to retain
idea for increasing participation. This new information and the word of God by hearing it;
world of technology where cell phones, Mp3 however, a large portion of the population is
players, computers and internet are an integral now used to accessing information through
part of our society and are regular attachments, visual processing. (Care, 2013).Integrating video
the church can should find a way to use them in and visual stimulation to support the Word of
positive ways to engage people in ways they God during a worship service which allows a
understand. Technology has changed the greater number of members of the congregation
worship experience of the congregation. The to fully understand the message. Since the last
integration of multi-media equipment such as two decades, a lot of dynamic changes have
projectors, giant LCD screens, High Definition taken place in the areas of religion, culture,
Cameras, Digital Sound Recording systems – economy and politics. ICT is being envisaged as
powered Sound Speakers, LCD Digital Podiums possessing the potential to transform the society
which dramatize and enhances sermons, etc. The and impact positively on the lives of people in
capability of these devices mentioned can general.
manipulate the atmosphere from sombre
(spiritual) to excitement or vice versa. It is 6. The Effect of ICT on Religion
presumed that “the larger a church intends to
grow, the greater it has to invest in the The pulpit has become the focal point of sharing
technology that enhances church service to information, so much so that it is inevitable to
ensure its members have a pleasant experience think around the effects of ICT on religion as a
in every worship service” whole. The improvement in technology has
Churches are integrating video mainstream, changed the strategy of managing church affairs
mobile devices and other forms of technology in such that more church leaders have joined and
order to reach out to generations that don‟t are joining social media such as Facebook,
remember a time without modern technology. Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google Plus etc.
Churches, like Winners chapel, Gospel faith These platforms are used to promote the
mission and most of the new generation prophetic message that churches have to offer.
churches are recreating worship with technology Frederick Ferre believes that technology stands
to reach a larger group of young Christians. for all practical implementations of intelligence.
The reality is that younger generations and even He talks about technology as matter and
the older are now comfortable accessing their activities, beliefs, and attitudes. In other words,
information through technology, whether it is on technology can be discussed in terms of tangible
a mobile device, video screen or tablet. things as well as intangible belief systems,
(Howard, 2016). They prefer this interactive attitudes and ways of thinking (Ferre 1991;
experience because as they grow up, technology 1995). According to Dale (2002) Technology
evolves. Churches can now reach a greater has given Christianity a voice to reach a world-
number of members and relay information or wide audience. Historically there have been
provide support, like prayer, through advances for Christianity when there have been
technology. An example is the Halleluyah advances in technology. Not all Christian groups
challenge which is been done through the social have reacted to it as have the Amish. In many
media. Many churches, communities and prayer cases the Church has been one of the first
groups use the free application called Prayer entities to adopt or profit from technology. The
Stream hosted by Christian Care Ministry, to Pax Romana that existed at the time of Christ
create a personalized prayer feed. Members with played a large role in the spread of the gospel.
a profile can add a prayer request, pledge to Technology that created good roads for
pray, and reach out to one another for religious transportation, that bolstered the strongest army
support and guidance. in the world to enforce relatively peaceful times,
and stabilized governments for common laws,
The traditional way of worship have been common language, and common culture allowed
focused on auditory processing, reaching the a small group of Christians to become a large

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following in a single generation”. Even in Islam, - It has provided help for the
one of the unique features of the Islamic society encouragement, the strengthening, and
is the way in which it combines the immutable edification of the saints through
and the flexible. It is a society that strictly technology tools and discipleship
adheres firmly to its fixed principles, but at the material.
same time encourages its followers adopt those - It allows religion to administer grace to
things which are beneficial to the society. The a world that is distracted and burdened,
Messenger of Allah (SAW) is reported to have by using various tools.
said: “Wisdom is the lost property of the - It provides security and safety which has
believer, wherever he finds it, he has more become a major concern for anybody
right to it.” In Islam all beneficial new participating in a private or public
developments in the fields of science and gathering due to global terrorism threats
cultural achievements should be adopted, if they against human life. Most churches are
are not already present, and efforts should be now been robbed by thieves hence the
made to bring them to the Muslim society, deployment of Closed Circuit Television
develop them and perfect them. This is a (CCTV), Hackett metal detectors,
communal obligation (fard kifaya), as the electrical fencing and wall fences have
Muslim scholars stated, and it requires paying been extended from Banks to the
attention to scientific research and allocating Church and mosques. After all, it is a
large sums of money to it. Those who are gathering of lost souls seeking the
unfamiliar with the Qur‟an might, be forgiveness of sins.
questioning themselves about the relationship
between the Qur‟an, which is a book, Churches can use specific software and
revealed in more than 1433 years ago and databases to process and store membership
Information and Communication Technology, records. Storing membership data, in an
which is an invention of this century. Al-Qur‟an electronic and organized manner, can help
is the book of knowledge and the first sources of church leaders become more acquainted with
Islamic law, which contains general principles their members and this trend can produce
applicable for all times and places (Usman, positive relationships between members and the
2013). Therefore, information and clergy as churches can send customized birthday
communication technology can have a positive messages, anniversary wishes, upcoming events,
and negative impact on religion. Even though devotion material, tailored prophetic prayers,
religion can no longer impact successfully etc. A church database can also help to easily
without being technologically competent and identify members with special needs such as
ICT compliant, is it then acceptable that the health & marital, jobs, housing, financial, and
essence of religious worship be forgotten due to educational, relationships issues.
the rise in technology?
Although, technology has bad as well as good
According to Sims (2014), Technology has been effects, it has also develop a dynamism of its
good for religion in a number of ways: own. It has been observed that technology has
- It has greatly magnified the voice of displaced the face of religious worship, to our
those preaching the gospel. Instead of great harm, especially in the way that worship
reaching hundreds or even thousands and church work is conducted. Borgmann has
when preaching a sermon, a pastor now described our culture quite well in his book
has a possible audience in the millions. Power Failure (Borgmann, 2003) He believes
- It has enriched the message of God by that technology is the defining element of our
providing information to a large number society. It has produced a culture of self-
of people in a shorter amount of time. orientation that is designed to procure a
- It has increased the number of channels comfortable and individualistic lifestyle. Science
of distribution of the gospel. and technology are the standards against which
all claims are evaluated. Technology, by its very

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nature, is value neutral or indifferent toward religious activities in worship to still

Christianity. Therefore, many people feel free to maintain its essence and relevance, there
dismiss Christianity. ICT also provides a are aspect of worship that should not be
medium for observing and modeling different influenced by Technology e.g prayer.
forms of behavior and a plethora of viewpoints Tithe and offering. Religion need to quit
and value systems. In the past, children learn letting technology define them or set the
appropriate behavior from those people who standards for them.
were close to them in proximity, such as parents, - Church leaders should make conscious
teachers, pastors, and leaders in the community. effort to positively harness ICT towards
But today they learn from the internet, music, the effective and acceptable worship.
movies, and television. Indeed religion has been Religion should devise a means whereby
greatly affected by these cultural change. Most ICT will not be tempted to hijack the
religion evaluates themselves by the same essence of religious worship.
standards as those used by the culture of - Religion adherents should be given
technology. (Wandner, 2004).Because orientation from time to time on how
technology provides immediate information and ICT, if not properly used, could cheapen
feedback, religion have begun to operate on a the spirituality of worship. Churches
fad or poll basis. Whatever the latest fad is or need to unplug from high and
whatever the latest trend predicted by the polls sophisticated technology periodically. It
happens to be, that is where religion is going. should propagate messages without the
Because our technical driven culture requires use of television or cell phones or
efficiency, convenience, and entertainment, then computers or radio.
the religion must provide that. Because religion - Worship should be observed without the
has tried to meet the standards of technology in total aid of technology.
order to remain relevant to society and culture, it
has given technology the right to declare it References
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